LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Mercyhurst College women's cross country runner Christie Turak has been chosen as the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Athlete of the Week, league officials announced Tuesday.

Turak continued her solid season by winning the Carnegie Mellon Invitational this past Saturday.  Her time of 17:32.21 was over one minute faster than her nearest competitor as she defeated a field of 157 other finishers.  Her time also set a new meet record, 41 seconds faster than the previous mark set in 1996 on the 5K course. 

For Turak, it was her fourth victory in five outings this season.  The only race she did not win was the Notre Dame Catholic Invitational, where she was the top Division II finisher, placing second overall.